Atlantic Beach Motorcycle Rally Injures 19 in Stampede
Nineteen people were injured in a stampede at the Atlantic Beach motorcycle rally early Sunday, with three taken to a hospital for treatment. Horry County Fire Rescue received the call around 1 a.m., and town officials later said the event resumed after the crowd was brought under control.
Atlantic Beach Bike Fest
The stampede happened near a stage area where performers had been appearing through the weekend. Town officials said all 19 people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and they said there were no confirmed fights, weapons or direct threats to public safety. The crowd had gathered at an event that had been drawing thousands of bikers from around the country since Friday.
Angel Williams, a visitor to Atlantic Beach, said she was there when the crowd started moving. “I didn’t see anything that alarmed us,” she said. “However, the crowd started to just run and of course you go into survival mode and you start to run with them.”
Friday and Saturday Measures
The weekend had already seen safety steps before the stampede. Traffic was suspended on Friday and again on Saturday, and the stage was shut down early one night to help with crowd control. Personnel with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources responded immediately, and SLED took the stage to address the situation.
Emilia Kornegay, another visitor to Atlantic Beach for Bike Fest, said the event had been calm for most of the weekend. “For most of the event it was nice and there was so many of us so for it to turn out as well as it did for so long I wouldn’t have expected that stampede,” she said.
Black Pearl Festival
The Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival has been held for over 40 years, and town officials said the event continued to attract visitors from across the country. Amanda Henry, a resident, provided video footage from the scene. The immediate concern for people at the festival was getting through the crowded area safely while responders handled the injury reports and the stage area reopened.
